The in vitro effects of interleukin-12 upon tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes derived from renal cell carcinoma

Clinical trials utilising interleukin (IL)-2 with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Several cytokines, as well as growth factors have demonstrated modulatory effects upon the biological properties of TIL from RCC, suggesting a potentially important role for cytokines other than IL-2 in the development of active and tumor-specific TIL. IL-12 was recently characterized as a natural-killer-cellstimulatory factor or cytotoxic-T-cell-maturation factor. These properties of IL-12 prompted us to investigate the impact of this cytokine upon the activation of TIL from human RCC. In an attempt to enhance the in vitro growth and activity of renal TIL, we have grown eight renal TIL cultures in varying concentrations of IL-2 (8, 40, 80, 400 U/ml) and IL-12 (200 U/ml). In addition, IL-12 (200 U/ml) was added to TIL cultures pre-activated with IL-2 (400 U/ml). Growth, cell expansion, and the ability of TIL to release certain cytokines upon tumor stimulation were determined. Proliferation assays, phenotypic analysis, and cytotoxicity assays were performed at an early and a late culture stage. IL-12, alone and when added to suboptimal concentrations of IL-2, failed to induce TIL growth. While the addition of IL-12 to optimal doses of IL-2 suppressed TIL culture expansion, sequential culture exposure first to IL-2 and then to IL-2+IL-12 increased the number of cells expressing CD3⁺/CD56⁺ and these cultures demonstrated enhanced in vitro lysis of autologous tumor. IL-12 clearly demonstrated a sequence-dependent impact of the biological behaviour of TIL from RCC. The optimal use of IL-12 in the in vitro expansion of renal TIL may result in cells with an enhanced specific anti-tumor effect.Abbreviations IL interleukin - TIL tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes - RCC renal cell carcinoma - NK natural killer - IFN interferon - TNF tumor necrosis factor - GM-CSF granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor - LAK lymphokine-activated killer cells     

程序性细胞死亡4基因在消化系肿瘤中的作用及机制研究进展

程序性细胞死亡4（programmed cell death 4，PDCD4）基因又称肿瘤性转化抑制剂，是一种新的抑癌基因，定位于人类染色体10q24，DNA全长26．9kb，含13个外显子，表达于正常的胃、胸腺、乳腺等组织中，所编码的蛋白质全长51．6kDa，469个氨基酸。研究表明PDCD4在许多消化系肿瘤组织及细胞（包括胃癌、肝癌、胰腺癌、结肠癌等）中的表达减少甚至丧失，并且PDCD4在肿瘤组织中的低表达状态与肿瘤的发生、发展（浸润和转移）、病理分期及预后判断有一定的关联。     

PDCD5因子增强顺铂抑制结肠癌细胞生长作用的体内研究

目的通过体内实验研究稳定转染程序性细胞死亡5(PDCD5)因子的结肠癌细胞对顺铂的敏感性,探讨PDCD5因子与顺铂联合治疗结肠癌的可行性。方法稳定转染PDCD5因子的结肠癌细胞SW480/PDCD5、稳定转染空载体的结肠癌细胞SW480/Neo及正常结肠癌细胞SW480分别接种到裸鼠皮下,形成皮下移植瘤后,顺铂(10 mg/kg)腹腔内注射,绘制移植瘤生长曲线;组织学观察皮下移植瘤,TUNEL法检测皮下移植瘤的凋亡情况;Western印迹法检测皮下移植瘤caspase-9和caspase-3的表达水平。结果 SW480/PDCD5对顺铂更加敏感,肿瘤体积增加幅度低于SW480和SW480/Neo(P0.05);SW480/PDCD5有更多的细胞出现变性坏死,更多的细胞染色体边集并出现凋亡小体,出现凋亡细胞的比例高于SW480和SW480/Neo(P0.05);SW480/PDCD5中caspase-9和caspase-3的活化片段较SW480和SW480/Neo更多(P0.05)。结论稳定转染PDCD5因子可以增加结肠癌细胞对顺铂的敏感性,二者联合应用在结肠癌治疗中有潜在的价值。     

库普弗细胞功能状态对肠缺血再灌注小鼠肝细胞凋亡和血清肿瘤坏死因子的影响

目的 研究库普弗细胞功能状态对肠缺血再灌注小鼠肝细胞凋亡和血清肿瘤坏死因子的影响。方法 封闭和不封闭BALB／c小鼠库普弗细胞(从尾静脉注射GdCl3或生理盐水27ml／kg体重)48h后，夹闭肠系膜上动脉1h后松夹，复制肠缺血再灌注模型。运用流式细胞术和酶联免疫法，分别检测缺血前、缺血60min、再灌注30min、60min肝细胞凋亡情况和血清肿瘤坏死因子的变化。结果 结果表明，肠缺血60min、再灌注30min、60min时，肝细胞凋亡数增多，血清肿瘤坏死因子水平逐渐升高；封闭库普弗细胞后，肝细胞凋亡数增多更显著，血清肿瘤坏死因子水平在同时间点上无显著差异。结论 库普弗细胞功能状态的变化对肠缺血再灌注时肝损伤有重要影响。     

肿瘤坏死因子基因多态性与溃疡性结肠炎相关性研究

目的 检测肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）α基因多态性是否与浙江地区汉族溃疡性结肠炎（UC）患者遗传易感相关.方法 血样来自浙江地区110例UC患者及292例健康对照者.通过特定引物的聚合酶链反应（PCR-SSP）方法直接检测野生型及TNF基因的6个多态性（TNF-1031T/C,-863C/A,-857C/T,-380G/A,-308G/A,-238G/A）.结果TNF-308A与汉族UC显著相关,等位基因频率在患者中为14.6%,在健康对照者中为8.9%,两者间差异有统计学意义（P=0.02）.TNF-857T的携带率在UC患者中为17.3%,健康对照者为12.2%,两者间差异无统计学意义（P=0.06）.单倍体分型显示,6种单倍体包括H5和H3,这两种单倍体都包含TNF-308A.H5单倍体频率在患者中为12.3%,在健康对照者为7.5%,两者间差异有统计学意义（P=0.03）.我们还发现了既往在白种人中较少见的单倍体H3.单倍体H4是由TNF基因启动子区域野生型等位基因组成,它的纯合子UC患者共有27例（24.5%）,在健康对照者中有102例（34.9%）,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,说明野生型等位基因可能与疾病的发生无关.结论 TNF-308A可能与汉族UC患者遗传易感相关.进一步的功能研究有助于明确突变型TNFα在UC发病过程中的作用.     

自身免疫性肝炎患者外周血CD8+T细胞PD-1表达水平变化

目的 探讨自身免疫性肝炎（AIH）患者外周血CD8⁺T细胞程序性死亡因子（PD-1）表达水平的变化。方法 随机选取我院收治的AIH患者25例和健康志愿者25例,使用流式细胞仪进行检测外周血CD8⁺T 淋巴细胞PD-1分子和PD-1分子受体（PD-L1）表达水平。结果 与健康人比,AIH血CD8⁺T细胞PD-1/PD-L1表达阳性百分比分别为（2.6±0.1）%和（2.1±0.8）%,明显高于健康人【（0.5±0.2）%和（0.4±0.1）%,P<0.01）;10例男性AIH患者血CD8⁺T细胞PD-1/PD-L1表达阳性百分比分别为（1.4±0.5）%和（2.3±0.6）%,显著低于15例女性患者【（3.8±0.8）%和（2.5±0.5）%）,P<0.05）;经皮质激素治疗4 w,25例AIH患者获得病情缓解。AIH患者在缓解期PD-1/PD-L1表达水平分别为（3.3±0.2）%和（2.8±0.3）%。结论 AHI患者外周血CD8⁺T细胞PD-1表达水平升高,与疾病活动可能存在密切的关系。     

Clinical significance of programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1 pathway in gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas

BACKGROUND Recently, more and more studies have demonstrated the pivotal role of programmed death 1/programmed death ligand 1(PD-1/PD-L1) pathway in the immune evasion of tumors from the host immune system. However, the role of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas(G-NECs) remains unknown.AIM To investigate the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and role of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in G-NECs, which occur rarely but are highly malignant and clinically defiant.METHODS We investigated the expression of PD-L1 on tumor cells and PD-1^+, CD8^+, and FOXP3^+ T cell infiltration by immunohistochemistry in 43 resected G-NEC tissue specimens. The copy number alterations of PD-L1 were assessed by qRT-PCR.RESULTS Most of the G-NECs tumor cells exhibited a near-uniform expression pattern of PD-L1, while some showed a tumor-stromal interface enhanced pattern. Of the 43G-NECs, 21(48.8%) were classified as a high PD-L1 expression group, and the high expression of PD-L1 was associated with poor overall survival(OS). The high expression of PD-L1 was correlated with abundant PD-1^+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes(TILs) instead of CD8^+ TILs and FOXP3^+ regulatory T cells(Tregs).Our analysis also suggested that the infiltration of CD8^+ TILs tended to be a favorable factor for OS, although the difference did not reach the statistical significance(P = 0.065). Meanwhile, PD-L1 was significantly overexpressed in cases with copy number gain as compared with those without.CONCLUSION Our data demonstrated for the first time that high expression of PD-L1 in GNECs is associated with a poor prognosis, while the high expression may be due to the copy number variation of PD-L1 gene or stimulation of TILs. These results provide a basis for the immunotherapy targeting PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in GNECs.     

肿瘤坏死因子-α基因多态性与乙型肝炎病毒宫内感染易感性的关系

目的 探讨肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)基因-238位点G／A单核苷酸多态性与乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)宫内感染易感性的关系。方法 应用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应技术检测HBV标志物阳性母亲所生45例HBV宫内感染儿童(Ⅰ组)、85例宫内未感染儿童(Ⅱ组)和126例对照组儿童TNF-α基因-238位点G／A单核苷酸多态性。结果 HBV宫内感染组TNF-α基因-238位点A等位基因频率显著高于HBV宫内未感染组(X^2=6．797，P=0．009)和对照组(X^2=9．513，P=0．002)，HBV宫内未感染组和对照组之间差异无显著性(X^2=0．047，P=0．828)。结论 TNF-α基因启动子区-238位点A等位基因与HBV宫内感染易感性相关，可作为检测其遗传易感性的标志之一。     

肿瘤坏死因子家族的B细胞激活因子免疫抑制分子的表达及免疫原性分析

目的制备异源性T辅助细胞表位修饰的人可溶性肿瘤坏死因子家族的B细胞激活因子（BAFF）突变体，并对其免疫抑制功能进行分析。方法经原核表达和Ni-NTA层析纯化制备异源性T辅助细胞表位修饰的人可溶性BAFF突变体；用所制备的重组蛋白免疫BALB／c小鼠，酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测小鼠血清中抗人BAFF抗体的滴度；四甲基偶氮唑蓝（MTTl）实验检测免疫小鼠血清抑制重组sBAFF和天然sBAFF功能的情况。结果重组蛋白在大肠杆菌中均获得了高效表达；经Ni-NTA层析纯化后，目的蛋白的纯度均达90％以上；用重组蛋白免疫小鼠均可诱导产生高滴度抗人可溶性BAFF抗体：免疫小鼠血清可抑制重组sBAFF和天然sBAFF刺激淋巴细胞增殖的功能。结论成功制备了可诱导产生高滴度特异性抗体的BAFF免疫抑制分子，为进一步探讨其治疗作用奠定了基础。     

骨髓增生异常综合征T细胞早期激活及可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体的研究

目的　研究骨髓增生异常综合征 (MDS)外周血CD+ 4 、CD+ 8T细胞早期激活标志CD69的表达及血清、骨髓可溶性肿瘤坏死因子受体 1、2 (sTNF R1、2 )的水平及其意义。方法　在植物血凝素 (PHA) 2 0mg/L条件下进行全血细胞培养 ,于 0h和 4h分别用流式细胞仪对CD+ 4 、CD+ 8T细胞CD69的表达进行分析。用ELISA法检测血清和骨髓sTNF R1、2的水平。结果　PHA刺激前难治性贫血 (RA)与难治性贫血伴环形铁粒幼细胞增多 (RAS)CD+ 4 、CD+ 8细胞CD69的表达率分别为 8 32 %、9 88% ,难治性贫血伴原始细胞增多 (RAEB)与转变中的RAEB(RAEB T)CD+ 8细胞CD69的表达率为7 92 %。PHA刺激后MDS患者CD+ 4 、CD+ 8细胞表达CD69明显增强 ,RA +RAS为 5 3 4 6 %、5 1 6 3% ;RAEB +RAEB T为 4 2 93%、4 1 96 % ,CD+ 4 与CD+ 8细胞CD69的表达率相似。MDS两种sTNF R1水平均明显升高 ,RA +RAS组sTNF R1血清为 (1 5 8± 0 6 8) μg/L ,骨髓为 (2 10± 0 2 6 ) μg/L ;sTNF R2血清为 (1 4 1± 0 5 0 ) μg/L ,骨髓为 (1 95± 0 6 4 ) μg/L ;RAEB +RAEB T组sTNF R1血清为 (2 6 2± 2 5 5 ) μg/L ,骨髓为 (3 12± 0 6 7) μg/L ;sTNF R2血清为 (1 96± 0 5 6 ) μg/L ,骨髓为(3 0 9± 0 6 2 ) μg/L。血清sTNF R2水平与PHA刺激     

PD-1/PD-L1通路在非小细胞肺癌中的研究进展

程序性死亡受体-1(PD-1)/程序性死亡配体-1(PD-L1)信号途径参与肿瘤的免疫逃逸。PD-L1蛋白在非小细胞肺癌组织中存在不同程度的表达,其表达程度与肿瘤细胞的分化程度、临床分期、淋巴转移及预后等相关联。PD-L1可能通过保持非小细胞肺癌肿瘤浸润性树突状细胞的不成熟状态,增强调节性 T 细胞功能,与浸润性淋巴细胞表面高表达的 PD-1相互作用诱导 CD8+ T 细胞凋亡等机制介导肺癌的免疫豁免。目前针对 PD-1/PD-L1途径的临床免疫治疗试验已经在非小细胞肺癌中取得一定的疗效,成为非小细胞肺癌免疫治疗的新靶向。     

Heterogeneous X-ray survival characteristics of lymphocytes in prolymphocytic leukaemia: Mathematical analysis distinguishing delayed cell death and true radioresistance

The survival of non-dividing (G₀) leukaemic lymphocytes in culture is generally too short for their radiosensitivity to be quantitatively assessed, since lethally X-irradiated cells may show a long delay before manifestations of cell death (“interphase death”) are seen. Counts of surviving cells will therefore include both lethally-hit cells (apparent survivors), and real survivors which have not been lethally hit. Death rates of irradiated leukaemic and normal cells show great variation between individuals, so that comparisons of radiosensitivity between different cell populations based on surviving cell counts at a single time-point are invalid. In this study the supposed radioresistance of prolymphocytic leukaemia lymphocytes was examined in 6 patients with B-cell disease. Survival curves were plotted from serial observations made over several days after graded X-irradiation (0–1000 cGy). We attempted to interpret these radiation responses in terms of their dose dependence (intrinsic radiosensitivity) and time dependence (cell death rate) characteristics using the best-fitting of four mathematical models, all based on classical “single-hit” target theory. The apparent radioresistance shown in 4 cases could be explained by very slow death rates (T_1/2 values 55–205 h) of cells proving otherwise radiosensitive (D37 values 38–123 cGy). Genuine radioresistance was found in only 1 case (actual D37 value above 2000 cGy). By ignoring delayed cell death in clinical assessments, pathological lymphocytes could be mistakenly categorised as resistant to elimination by radiotherapy.     

The effect of tumor necrosis factor blockade on the response to pneumococcal vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha therapies on the immunogenicity of pneumococcal vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: A group of 16 consecutive patients (11 with RA and 5 with AS) treated either with infliximab or etanercept, and a control group of 17 age-matched RA patients treated with disease-modifying medications other than anti-TNF-alpha, received intradeltoid injection with 0.5 mL of pneumococcal vaccine. Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPS)-specific IgG to 7 vaccine PPS (representing high- and low-prevalence serotypes) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera obtained before and 1 month after pneumococcal immunization. RESULTS: One month after vaccination, both groups had significant increases in the geometric mean concentration of capsule PPS-specific antibody and in the mean fold increase in antibody levels to all 7 serotypes, compared with prevaccination levels. However, compared with the control group, the TNF-alpha blockade-treated patients tended to have lower antibody increases for all the serotypes tested except serotype 14. In addition, lower proportions of TNF-alpha blockade-treated patients responded to pneumococcal vaccination compared with patients on other therapies. Similarly, more TNF-alpha blockade-treated patients were poor responders compared with patients not on anti-TNF-alpha treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment of groups of patients with etanercept or infliximab does not impair their mean antibody responses to pneumococcal vaccination. However, a larger proportion of RA patients may not respond adequately to pneumococcal vaccination once on TNF-alpha blockade therapies. Consequently, pneumococcal vaccination before starting TNF-alpha blockade therapy is recommended.     

自身免疫性肝炎患者外周血CD8~+T淋巴细胞PD-1表达及意义

目的研究自身免疫性肝炎患者外周血CD8+T淋巴细胞程序性死亡受体1(PD-1)表达的变化。方法选择自身免疫性肝炎患者22例和健康人20例,使用流式细胞仪检测所有被研究者外周血CD8+T淋巴细胞PD-1分子的表达状况,比较不同分期和不同性别疾病患者PD-1表达水平。结果自身免疫性肝炎患者外周血CD8+T淋巴细胞PD-1分子阳性百分比为2.5±0.5%,显著高于健康对照组(0.5±0.1%,P<0.001);自身免疫性肝炎发病期患者CD8+T淋巴细胞表达PD-1百分比为2.6±0.7%,与缓解期比无统计学差异(3.4±0.8%);16例女性AIH患者外周血CD8+T淋巴细胞PD-1阳性百分比为3.5±0.7%,亦略高于6例男性患者的1.3±0.3%,但无显著统计学差异(P=0.1021),可能与例数较少有关。结论自身免疫性肝炎患者CD8+T淋巴细胞PD-1表达率增加,PD-1可能在自身免疫性肝炎的发病中起了重要作用。     

大黄酸对肿瘤坏死因所致胰腺细胞损伤的保护作用

目的：在于探讨大黄酸是否对肿瘤坏死因子作用下的胰腺细胞具有保护作用。方法：观察大黄酸对肿瘤坏死因子作用条件下体外培养的大鼠胰腺细胞的细胞活率．培养上清中的乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、淀粉酶(AMY)和N-乙酰-D-氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)的水平的影响．并进行了胰腺细胞形态学观察。结果：大黄酸可提高相应肿瘤坏死因子浓度下的胰腺细胞的细胞活率,降低培养上清中LDH、AMY和NAG的水平。结论：大黄酸对肿瘤坏死因子所致胰腺细胞损伤有明显的保护作用。     

奥曲肽对实验性急性坏死性胰腺炎大鼠肿瘤坏死因子α和一氧化氮的作用

目的探讨急性坏死性胰腺炎(ANP)大鼠肿瘤坏死因子α(TNFα)和一氧化氮(NO)含量的变化及奥曲肽的治疗作用。方法30只SD大鼠随机分为三组,即ANP生理盐水处理组(ANP+NS组)、ANP奥曲肽治疗组(ANP+奥曲肽组)和假手术组(SO组)。测定血清TNFα和NO2－/NO3－量的变化,并于光镜及电镜下观察胰、肺组织标本。结果ANP+NS组血清TNFα和NO2－/NO3－分别为623.5±100.4pg/mL和99.9±28.6μmol/L,明显高于ANP+奥曲肽组(143.1±38.2pg/mL和59.2±26.2μmol/L)及假手术组(2.0±2.7pg/mL和39.2±6.2μmol/L),(P＜0.05)。ANP+NS组大鼠的胰、肺严重受损、而ANP+奥曲肽组大鼠的胰、肺受损程度较轻。结论奥曲肽对ANP大鼠的胰、肺损伤具有保护作用,其机制可能与抑制循环中TNFα和NO水平的增高有关。     

靶向表皮生长因子受体的RNA干扰技术对非小细胞肺癌细胞株A549细胞抑制及顺铂敏感性的研究

目的 利用RNA干扰(RNAi)技术,将携带表皮生长因子受体(epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)同源基因的重组质粒稳定转染非小细胞肺癌细胞株A549细胞,观察其对A549细胞生长抑制作用及对顺铂敏感性的变化.方法 根据RNAi原理,体外设计并合成靶向EGFR特异性干扰片段,即h-EGFR,以pGensil-1为载体,构建重组质粒pGensil-1-EGFR,以Lipofectamine 2000介导转染肺腺癌细胞株A549细胞,经G418筛选后挑选出稳定转染的单克隆细胞.将所挑选出的单克隆细胞大量培养后加入不同浓度顺铂(40 mg/L、10 mg/L、2.5 mg/L),采用四甲基偶氮唑蓝比色法检测细胞活力,绘制生长曲线,流式细胞仪分析细胞周期及细胞凋亡的变化,观察RNAi对A549细胞抑制作用及是否与顺铂有协同作用.结果 与对照组、阴性对照组相比,从第2天起实验组生长缓慢,吸光度有统计学差异(P＜0.05);顺铂或联合dsRNA-EGFR对A549细胞有抑制作用,且随着浓度的增加和时间的延长抑制作用增强,dsRNA-EGFR联合顺铂与等浓度顺铂吸光度有统计学差异(P＜0.05),顺铂作用24 h后40 mg/L、10 mg/L、2.5 mg/L顺铂抑制率分别提高了7.8%、30.70%、34.42%.实验组G0/G1细胞百分比较对照组增加了13.84%,较阴性对照组增加了14.65%,进入S期的细胞百分比较对照组减少了19.10%,较阴性对照组减少了18.68%;40 mg/L、10 mg/L、2.5 mg/L顺铂处理细胞24 h后,与对照组相比,凋亡率明显增高(P＜0.05),且浓度越高,凋亡率越高;同一浓度顺铂作用下转染pGensil-1-EGFR的A549细胞凋亡率较A549细胞增高(P＜0.05).结论 dsRNA-EGFR可有效抑制A549细胞生长,使细胞阻滞在G0-G1期,顺铂可有效诱导细胞凋亡,RNAi与顺铂具有协同效应,提高细胞对顺铂的敏感性,RNAi技术为非小细胞肺癌基因治疗提供了新策略.     

From the Cover: Kinetic phases of distribution and tumor targeting by T cell receptor engineered lymphocytes inducing robust antitumor responses

A key issue in advancing the use of adoptive cell transfer (ACT) of T cell receptor (TCR) engineered lymphocytes for cancer therapy is demonstrating how TCR transgenic cells repopulate lymphopenic hosts and target tumors in an antigen-specific fashion. ACT of splenocytes from fully immunocompetent HLA-A2.1/K^b mice transduced with a chimeric murine/human TCR specific for tyrosinase, together with lymphodepletion conditioning, dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination, and high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2), had profound antitumor activity against large established MHC- and antigen-matched tumors. Genetic labeling with bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and positron emitting tomography (PET) reporter genes allowed visualization of the distribution and antigen-specific tumor homing of TCR transgenic T cells, with trafficking correlated with antitumor efficacy. After an initial brief stage of systemic distribution, TCR-redirected and genetically labeled T cells demonstrated an early pattern of specific distribution to antigen-matched tumors and locoregional lymph nodes, followed by a more promiscuous distribution 1 wk later with additional accumulation in antigen-mismatched tumors. This approach of TCR engineering and molecular imaging reporter gene labeling is directly translatable to humans and provides useful information on how to clinically develop this mode of therapy.     

Necroptosis: An emerging type of cell death in liver diseases

Cell death has been extensively evaluated for decades and it is well recognized that pharmacological interventions directed to inhibit cell death can prevent significant cell loss and can thus improve an organ’s physiological function. For long, only apoptosis was considered as a sole form of programmed cell death. Recently necroptosis, a RIP1/RIP3-dependent programmed cell death, has been identified as an apoptotic backup cell death mechanism with necrotic morphology. The evidences of necroptosis and protective effects achieved by blocking necroptosis have been extensively reported in recent past. However, only a few studies reported the evidence of necroptosis and protective effects achieved by inhibiting necroptosis in liver related disease conditions. Although the number of necroptosis initiators is increasing; however, interestingly, it is still unclear that what actually triggers necroptosis in different liver diseases or if there is always a different necroptosis initiator in each specific disease condition followed by specific downstream signaling molecules. Understanding the precise mechanism of necroptosis as well as counteracting other cell death pathways in liver diseases could provide a useful insight towards achieving extensive therapeutic significance. By targeting necroptosis and/or other parallel death pathways, a significant cell loss and thus a decrement in an organ’s physiological function can be prevented.